Common symptoms
- A web app cannot save settings or offline files
- The browser repeatedly asks to clear site data
- Storage works normally but fails in private browsing
Possible causes
- The site reached a browser-managed quota
- Private or restricted browsing blocks persistent storage
- The browser profile or site data is corrupted
- The physical disk has very little free space
How to diagnose it
- Run the quick check and review browser storage quota and persistence
- Test outside private browsing without clearing all data
- Inspect storage for the affected site in browser settings
- Confirm free disk space in the operating system
Solutions to try
- Remove data for the affected site only after backing up anything important
- Allow storage or cookies when the application requires them
- Free physical disk space if the operating system is nearly full
- Use a fresh browser profile to test suspected profile corruption
Frequently asked questions
Is browser quota my total disk size?
No. It is an estimate of space the browser may manage for websites, and the browser can change it based on free space, mode, and policy.
Why is storage smaller on iPhone or Safari?
Browser engines and operating systems apply different privacy and eviction policies. A smaller reported quota is not automatically a storage fault.